Control of ion exchange systems



W. R. SWENSON CONTROL or' 10N EXCHANGE `sx's'rFMs Jan. 4, 1949.

Filed Aug'. 2, 1947 5 ShetsA-Sheet 2 F luv.,

Jan. 4, 1949. w. R. swENsoN 2,458,115

CONTROL 0F-ION EXCHANGE SYSTEMS Filed Aug.' 2, 194'?` :5 sheets-sheet 's ATTORNEY Batented dan, d, 194i@ orrica coN'rnoL oF roN EXCHANGE SYSTEMS Walter R. Swenson. Flushing, -N. Y., assigner to The Dorn- Cornpany (Ina), New York, N. Y., a

corporation o! Delaware Application August 2, 1947, Serial No. 765,683

(Cl. 21o-24) 4 (llaims. l

This inventlon relates to the operation of beds of ion exchange material and more specifically to the operation of exchange beds that are contained in closed containers or tanks, so-called ion exchange cells, in which the bed of material must be kept in submergence by the liquid passing downwardly through the bed.

A requirement in the operation of such closed cells is that the bed should be kept not only submerged, but that the level of the submerging liquid should be prevented from rising substantially above the top level of the bed as well as from falling below the top level of the bed. This means that a volume ol excess liquid must be prevented from buil up above the bed, in order that eX- cess detention ci the liquid in the cell might be avoided, and further that the intermingling of one'kihd of solution with another solution might be minimized as and' when these solutions are sequentially passed downwardly through thev bed.

An example of an exchange operation requiring that the time of detention be kept at a minimum, is :found in the problem of ionic puriilication treatment of sugar juice in the patent -to Shafor No. 2,365,221 as well as in the copending patent application of Campbell, Serial No. 620,723,

filed October t, 1945, both the patent and the application disclosing devices for automatically maintaining the liquid level close to or at the top level oi a'bed of exchange material in a closed cell. The copendlng Campbell application -discloses a neat-controlled device which automatically adjusts the level in the cell within predetermined limits by automatically opening or throttllng the eiliuent valve of the cell, while a constant a :1` 1.- pressure is being automatically maintained on the liquid level in the cell. The iioat device operates in a compensatory fashion whereby it increases the ow resistance of the valve by throttling it whenever there occurs an undue drop of the liquid level, while it decreases the resistance odered by the valve whenever there occurs an undue rise othe liquid level in the cell.

Otherwise expressed this means that the total iiow resistance of a cell which must be balanced bythe air pressure in the cell is presented by theA sum total of the ow resistance of the bed and the now resistance of the valve and its associated connections. The compensatory correction operates either to effect a lowering of the valve ow resistance to the extent that the .bed now resistance increases or to cause a raising of the valve flow resistance to the extent that the bed iiow resistance dreases. l

For example, the flow resistance of a bed may trollen admission valve of each cell.

increase where liquid ilowing downwardly through the bed causes compactlng thereof as well as a deposit of solid phase matter on the granules of the bed or in the void spaces between the granules. Such solids or solid impurities are usually washed out of the bed prior to its regeneration by means of an upflow of washwater through the bed.` Changes in ow resistance may also occur with changes in ow volume or Iiow velocity of the liquid passing through the bed.

According to this invention a problem lies in establishing a simple and reliable control system for operating a cell through a sequence of periods or phases, each o1' which requires a. different constant basic air pressure to be maintained upon the liquid level in the cell. The respective basic pressures may diil'er substantially from one another either` upwardly or downwardly in accordance with similar changes of the ilow resistance 'which they must balance. Hence the problem is to establish and automatically maintain a constant basic air pressure of a dierent order for each respective operating period, while the rloatncontrolled device of the cell operates concurrently in a manner of a line adjustment or control, that is to say in a manner of what might figuratively be called a micrometer adjustment upon the previously established basic pressure.

A condition requiring periodically the establishing and maintaining of a different basic airv pressure in the cell is encountered in those exchange operations Where the liquid passes through a series or line of beds or cells, and where these cells must be changed or switched with respect to their position in the line whereby a downstream cell is moved to an upstream position. That is to say. in accordance with the position which the cell assumes in the line a corresponding basic air pressure must be established and maintained constant in a cell for the duration of that position. In other Words, the basic pressure in the cell must be changed in accordance with the change of flow resistance resulting from a change of position of the cell.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a simple and reliable control system in which basic or primary control means are operatively combined or coordinated with neor secondary liquid level control devices. To this end, in order to raise the basic pressure in a cell of the line, this invention proposes to provide in the air pressure supply system a reverse-acting diaphragm con- The term reverse-acting herein means that the one or inner side of the diaphragm is under the pressure of the air or gas in the cell from the downstream" side of the valve whereby the diaphragm is influenced in a valve-closing sense. The other or outer side of the diaphragm can be placed selectively under any one of a number of predetermined basic pressures derived from an auxiliary pressure fluid supply, balancing the cell air pressure in a valve-opening sense. That is to say, the auxiliary fluid pressure can be selectively admitted to the diaphragm through any one of a number of pre-set automatic pressure-regulating valves or reduction valves which are provided in respective parallel auxiliary headers of an auxiliary fluid supply. Parallel auxiliary branches leading in turn from the headers supply the respective selective pressure to the outer side of the diaphragm of the admission valve. Thus, by closingl all but a selected one of the auxiliary branches associated with a cell a desired predetermined basic air pressure can be selectively established in that cell.

In order to lower the basic pressure in a cell of the line, this invention provides a right-acting diaphragm-controlled air release or exhaust. valve for each cell.

vThe term right-acting herein means that the pressure of the air or gas in the cell acts upon the one or inner side of the diaphragm in a valve-opening sense, this pressure being opposed or balanced by the selected auxiliary pressure acting upon the opposite or outer side of the diaphragm.

The reverse-acting pressure admission valve together with the right-acting pressure release valve allows a selected basic pressure to be maintained in the cell within narrow limits. Thus each cell of the line is provided with a pair of diaphragm-controlled valves, namely, an inletand an exhaust valve, all of the diaphragm-controlled valves of all the cells being master-controlled by only one set of selective reduction valves each of which represents one predetermined basic pressure -to be selectively established in the cell.

Associated with these primary or basic pressure control means are secondaryor fine control means capable of automatically applying correctives or adjustments to the ow resistance at the' efiluent end of the cell in response to variationsl of the liquid level in the cell.

According to one feature of the fine-control means are substantially in the nature of those disclosed in the copending Campbell patent application Serial No. 629,723, that is a float-controlled device iniluenced by the liquid level governs auxiliary uid pressure acting upon a diaphragm-controlled valve placed in the eilluent connection of a cell.

According to another feature the auxiliarypressure chambers of each pair of diaphragmcontrolled valves of each cell have a pressureequalizing interconnection to which lead parallel accents cally established as required by the cyclic operation or operating phases of the cells.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which with the foregoing will be s et forth. in the following description. In the following description and in the claims, parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit. In the accompanying drawings there has been illustrated the best embodiment of the invention known to me, but such embodiment is to be regarded as typical only of many possible embodiments, and the invention is not to be limited thereto.

The novel features considered characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself,

, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a speciiic embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figs. 1 to 3 show diagrammatically the operation of a row of ion exchange cells operating in series, and illustrates the Iupstreamshliting of the cells with respect to their operative position in the row; Fig. 1 showing a first set or combination of cells in series operation, Fig. 2 showing a second set or combination of cells in series operation, and Fig. 3 showing a third set or combinationof cells in series operation.

Fig. 4 shows a single cell operation as when under regeneration.

Fig. 5 shows the row of cells implemented with the liquid level and cell pressure control devices.

Fig. 6 indicates diagrammatically the provision .of automatic means for coordinating and controlling the establishment of the different cell pressures.

Fig. '7 is an enlargeddetail view of a pair of diaphragm-controlled valves associated with a cell.

As an example of the operation in series of a plurality of ion exchange cells there is herein presented (see Figsz 1 to 3) a row of eight cells comprising cation exchange cells and anion exchange cells in alternation. That is to say, this row comprises sequential pairs of cationand anion exchange cells, such as the pairs C1 and A1, C2 and Aa, C3 and A3, C4 and A4, a bed of granular ion exchange material being indicated in each cell as B1, B2, Bs, B4, B5, Bs, B1 and B8 respectively.

This example is based upon a 4-bed operation in which the liquid to be treated or ionically purifled, such as a sugar-bearing liquid or sugar juice,

is passed sequentially through two pairs of cation and anion exchange beds, such as the pair Ci and A1 and the pair C2 and Az. The passage of the liquid or sugar juice sequentially through these beds is shown in Fig. 1 by the dotted line L1 in predetermined air pressure maintained in it to act upon the liquid level to substantially balance the ilow resistance. Thus under the assumed ilow conditions of Fig. 1 the cell C1 is indicated to require a. cell air pressure of 50#, the cell A1 sans to require a cell air pressure of 40st, the cell Ca to require a cell air pressure of 251%, and the cell A2 to require a cell air pressure of 15#.

According to Fig. 2 the ilrst pair of cells C1 and A1 having been exhausted is shown out of active operation, while a freshly regenerated pair of cells C: and Aa has been added or placed in operation at the downstream end thereby in effect operatively shifting the only partially exhausted beds C2 and Arto an upstream position. The now active set of four cells is designated as II, and the flow therethrough indicated by the dotted line Le. Accordingly the required cell air pressure for cell C2 is 50# as compared with the previously required 25#, the required cell air pressure for cell A2 is 40# as compared with the previously required 151i, fresh cell Ca is started at 25#, and fresh cell A3 started at 15%.

According to Fig. 3 the cells C2 and A: have been exhausted and are out of active operation, while a freshly regenerated pair of cells C4 and A4 have been added or placed in operation at the downstream end thereby in eifect operatively shifting the only partially exhausted beds to an upstream position. The now operative set of cells C3, A3, C4, A4, is designated as III and the ow of liquid or sugar juice therethrough indicated by' the dotted line Ls.

Fig. 4 represents a single cell which may be either of the cation exchange or of the anion exchange type, and assumed to be operatively'detached while regenerant solution is being passed therethrough as indicated by the dotted line L4, assumed to require a cell air pressure of 15#l to approximately balance the single cell flow resistance.

Thus it will be seen that the cation exchange cells require variously air pressures of 50#, 25#, and 15#, while the anion exchange cells require either 40# or 15#.

A row of four pairs of exchange cells corresponding to those diagrammatically indicated in Figs. 1 to 3, is shown in Fig. 5, the rst pair being C1 and A1', the second pair C2' and A2, the third pair C3 and A3', and the fourth pair C4' and A4'. These cells are shown to be implemented in Fig. 5 by a pipe system for supplying to and passing through the cells the liquid or sugar juice to be treated, in the fashion diagrammatically represented in Figs. 1 to 3. These cells are furthermore shown to be operatively implemented by the showing of suitable compressed air pipe connections to supply air pressure to the cells, diaphragm-controlled valves in these connections. auxiliary valve-controlling air-pressure connections and pre-set pressure reductionvalves and` solenoid-controlled valves therein. The pre-set reduction valves furnish the predetermined cell air pressures, for example of such order as 501i', 40#, 25#, and 15# respectively.

Each cell also is provided with a liquid level responsive float device which by impulse through an auxiliary fluid pressure medium governs a diaphragm-controlled valve in the eilluent connection of the cell, whereby the liquid level is automatically maintained within narrow predetermined limits as the valve is being opened or throttled in a compensatory fashion adjusting ilow resistance in response to movements of the oat in the oat device.

The liquid supply system comprises a liquid or juice supply header I0 having supply branches Il, I2, i3, and I4 leading to the top portion or inlet `end of the cells C1', Cz', C3', and Clthese branches being provided with valves I5, I8, I1, and it respectively for opening or closing the branches. The header II has provided in it at certain points valves for opening and closing, one such valve its being disposed between branches Il and Il, another such valve mi being disposed between branches Hand Il. and still another valve iii being disposed between branches i8 and I4. An eilluent pipe I! leads from the bottom o! cell Ci'` to the top of cell A1. An emuent pipe 20 leads from the bottom of cell As' tothe top oi' cell C3' joining branch i2 at i2* and. having a valve 20e for opening or closing. An eiiluent pipe 2i leads from the bottom of cell C2' to the top of cell Aa'. An eilluent pipe 22 lea/ds from the hottom of cell An' to the top o cell C3', `ioinng the branch I3 at la and provided with a valve 22l for opening and closing. An euent pipe 23 leads from the bottom of cell C3' to the top of cell Aa'. An eiiluent pipe 24 leads from the bottom of cell Aa` to the top of cell Ci', joining the branch Il at IIia and provided with valve 26h for opening and closing. An effluent pipe 2b leads fromrthe bottom of cell C4' to the top of cell Aie'. An eiiluent pipe 26 leads from the bottom of cell A4' to an eilluent disposal header 2'! and has a valve 28 for opening and closing. This eminent disposal header 21 is also joined by eiiiuent disposal branches 29 and 30 leading from euent pipes 22 and 24 respectively at points ll and 32 thereof and provided with respective valves 33 and 34 for opening and closing.

The air pressure supply system comprises a main air supply header 35 having air supply branches 38, 31, 38. 39, 40, el, l2 and i3 leading to the top of the respective cells. Each of these branches has in it -a reverse-acting diaphragmcontrolled valve s uch as exempliiled by valve M disposed in the horizontal section Il5 of branch 36. Each of these branches also has a horizontal length of pipe forexhaust or relief, herein termed the exhaust, portion as exemplied by the portion 46 extending from a point 41 at the downstream side of valve 44, and provided with a right-acting diaphragm-controlled valve I8.

The reverse-acting valve M is herein understood to be one in which pressure from the downstream side of the valve acts upon the diaphragm in a valve-closing sense, whereas the right-acting valve 48 is understood to have pressure from the upstream sideof it acting upon the diaphragm in a valve-opening sense.

For example the valve il has an outer pressure chamber 69 and an inner pressure chamber 50, both chambers being divided from each other by a. diaphragm 5i (see detail Fig. 7) connected with a valve stem 52 operating in a valve housing 52.

The outer pressure chamber 49 has a connection 53 for supplying thereto an auxiliary pressure uid which may be air. to balance pressure reaching the inner pressure chamber 50 from the downstream side of the valve. predetermined or pre-set constant' fluid pressure is maintained in the outer chamber 49 the valve will allow compressed air to pass into the cell until the pressure within the cell, that is the cell air pressure acting in the inner chamber 5B, equals the pre-set pressure in the outer chamber.

That is to say, the diaphragm 5I is deilected in accordance with pressure diierentials between the two chambers, but closes when the diilerential disappears and the pressures are substantially equalized. lModifying adjustments upon the valve are, of course', possible.A

The right-acting valve 48 is similar to the valve 44 in so far as it has a valve-housing 54, a valve stem 55 connected to and controlled by a diaphragm 55* which represents a partition between an inner chamber 55 under cell air pressure from the upstream side of the valve and an outer chamber 51 under the same pressure as the outer chamber 49 of valve 44 because of a connection 58 communicating with connection 53 of valve 44 through an interconnecting pipe 59 to which various predetermined and pre-set fluid pressures can bev selectively supplied from the auxiliary fluid 1 pressure supply system roughly indicated as at 80.

For maintaining the cell air pressure the auxiliary pressure iiuid supply system for valves 44 and 48 comprises an auxiliary supply header 8| branching oir the main air supply header 35. and having in turn four auxiliary brganch supply headers or sub-headers 82, 83, 64, and 65 leading from header 5| at points 66, 51, 68, and 69 respectively. These four sub-headers have reduction valves or devices 18, 1|, 12, and 13 respectively pre-set to admit compressed air or pressure fluid to the extent that in the sub-headers there are maintained pressures, for example of 50 lbs. 40

lbs. 25 lbs. and 15 lbs. respectively, as indicated by pressure gauges 14, 15, 18 and 11.

Each of the sub-headers has a set of auxiliary supply branches for each cell whereby to supply a selected predetermined' pressure to the outer pressure chambers of a selected pair of diaphragm-controlled valves of a cell. Each supply branch therefore has a valve for opening or closing, shown to be in the nature of a. solenoidcontrolled valve. By opening .but one of such a set of solenoid-controlled valves associated with a cell, a selected predetermined pressure can be admitted to thereby establish a corresponding cell air pressure.

Accordingly,with respect to the operation oi' cell C1' a branch 19 leading from sub-header 62 joins the interconnecting pipe 59 at 19 and has a solenoid-controlled valve 80, a second branch 8| leading from sub-header B8 joins the interconnecting pipe 159 at 82 and has a solenoid-controlled valve 83, a third branch 84 leading from sub-header 65 joins the interconnecting pipe 59 at 85 and has a solenoid-controlled valve 86.

The cell A1' has associated with it a pair of diaphragm-controlled valves 01 and 88 which in their function correspond to that of valves 44 and 48 of cell C1'. That is to say, the outer pressure chambers of the valves 81and 86 are interconnected by a pressure-equalizing pipe 89. A branch 90 leading from the sub-header 62 joins the equalizing pipe 89 at 9| and has a solenoidcontrolled valve 92. A second branch 93 leading from Sub-header 54 joins the equalizing pipe 89 at 94 and has a solenoid-controlled valve 98. The cell Cn' has associated with it a pair of diaphragm-controlled valves 95 and 96 similar in function to the valves 44 and 49 of cell C1'. That is to say, the outer pressure chambers of the valves 95 and 96 are interconnected by a pressureequalizing pipe91. A branch 98 leading from sub-header 62 Joins the equalizing pipe 91 at v99 and has a solenoid-controlled valve |00. -A second branch leading from sub-header 63 joins the equalizing pipe 91 at |02 and has a solenoidcontrolled valve |03. A third branch |04 leading from sub-header 65 joins the equalizingfpipe 91 at |05 and has a.- solenoid-controlled valve |06.

The cell A2' has associated. with it a pair of diaphragm-controlled valves |01 and |00 similar in function to the valves 44 andV 48 of cell Ci'. That is to say, the outer pressure chambers of the 8 i valves |01 and |08 are interconnected by a pressure-equalizing pipe |09. A branch I|0 leading from sub-header 62 joins the pipe |09 at and l has a solenoid-.controlled valve ||2. A second branch ||3 leading from sub-header 84 joins pipe |09- at ||4and has a solenoid-controlled valve -The cell Ca' has associated with it a pair of diaphragm-controlled valves ||6 and ||1 similar in function to the valves 44 and 48 of cell C1'. That is to say, the outer pressure chambers of l the valves ||6 and ||1 are interconnected by a pressure-equalizing pipe ||9.` A branch ||9 leading from sub-header 62 joins pipe ||8 at |20 and has a solenoid-controlled valve |2|. A second branch |22 leading from sub-header 63 joins pipe ||8 at |23 and has a .solenoid-controlled valve |24. A third branch |25 leading from sub-header Joins pipe ||8 at |26 and has a solenoidcontrolled valve |21. y

The cell A3 has associated with it a pair of diaphragm-controlled valves |28 and |29 similar in function to the valves 44 and 48 of cell C1. That is to say, the outer pressure chambers of the valves |29 and |29 are interconnected by a pressure-equalizlng pipe |30. A branch I3| leading from sub-header 62 joins pipe |30 at |32 and has a solenoid-controlled valve |33. A second branch |34 leading from sub-header 64 joins pipe |30 at |35 and has a solenoid-controlled Valve |36.

The cell C4 has associated Iwith it a pair of diaphragm-controlled valves |31 and |38 similar in function to valves 44 and 48 of cell C1. That is to say, the outer pressure chambers of the valves |31 and |38 are interconnected by a pressure-equalizing pipe |39. A branch |40 leading from sub-header 62 joins pipe |39 at |4| and has a solenoid-controlled valve |42. A second branch |43 leading from subheader 63 joins pipe |39 at |44 and hasa solenoid-controlled valve |45. A third branch |46 leading from sub-header 65 joins pipe |39 at |41 and has a solenoid-controlled valve |48.

The cell A4' has associated with it a pair of diaphragm-controlled valves |49 and |50 similar in function to valves 44 and 48 of cell C1. That is to say, the outer pressure chambers of the Valves |49 and |50 are interconnected by a pressureequalizing pipe 5|. A branch |52 leading from sub-header62 joins pipe |5| at |53 and has a solenoid-controlled valve |54. A second branch |55 leading from sub-header 54 joins pipe |5| at |56 and has a solenoid-controlled valve |51.

In cell C1' the liquid level M1 shows as being maintained slightly above, that is an average relatively small distance d above the top level N of the bed of granular exchange material in the cell, the depth of which is designated as D. A liquid level controlling device associated with cell C1 comprises a iioat device influenced by and in turn controlling the liquid level M1 isindicated collectively as O1, having a float body |58 which moves in accordance with variations of the liquid level M1. The movements of the float body |59 govern the supply of pressure or iiuid or ccmpressed air affecting the operation of the diaphragm-controlled liquid eiliuent valve Isa. Thus, an undue rise of the body |58 with the liquid level will cause a degree of opening of the valve I9 reducing the flow resistance sufficiently to allow the cell air pressure to depress the level. An undue drop of the body |58 with the liquid level will cause a degree of closing or throttling of valve |9a increasing the flow resistance suficiently to allow the liquid level to rise.

' from the header 35 to the iloat device O1 and having a pre-set pressure-reducing device or valve ISI. 'A pipe |62 transmits controlled air pressure from the float device O1 to a diaphragm pressure chamber |63 oi' valve |83. The structural and operational details of the devices for thus maintaining control oi the liquid level are set forth in the afore-mentioned copending patent application to Campbell.

Similarly, the liquid levels M2Ma, M4, Ms, Ms. Mv, and Ms are controllably maintained by the 'float devices O2, Os, O4, Ot, Oe, Ov and Os provided upon the otherv cells A1', C2', Az. Ce', A3', Cs', and A4 respectively, and controlling respec tive eiiiuent valves 20e, 2|, 22, 23B, 2li, 251, and 26'. Accordingly, these float devices are supplied with auxiliary fluid pressure medium or compressed air by respective branches |04, |05,

|08, |61, |80, B89, and |10 all leading from the header |59, and provided with respective pre-set pressure reduction devices or valves |1|, |12, |13,l

|14, |15, |16. and |11, and governing the eiiiuent Operation The operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 in accordance with the sequential operation of the ion exchange cells as diagramquentially through these four cells, there is automatically maintained in each cell an appropriate constant air pressure, forexample oi 50# in the first cell, of in the second cell, of 25# in the third cell and of l5# in the fourth cell due to the respective automatic pressure reduction valves 70, 71, '72, and 73. Such pressure reduction valves are well-known pieces of equipment and as such are commercially available. The manner of controlling this cell air pressure is the same for all cells and it may be described by reference to Fig. '7 representing the Ypertinent portions and accessories of the first cell C1'. i

In that instance a suitable electrical control impulse from the central control station |10 closes the solenoid-controlled valves 80 and B3 while opening the solenoid controlled valve 80 admitting auxiliary air pressure from sub-header 65 to the outer pressure chambers 49 and 51 of the diaphragm-controlled valves 44 and 4:8 by way of the equalizing pipe El. If the cell pressure at that time is below 50# this will cause the valve 44 to open and the valve 48 to close, thus admitting through valve 44 compressed air from main header 35 through branch 3B until pressure in cell C1 also has reached 50# as the cell air pressure reacts equally upon the underside of both dlaphragms 5I and 55e. If the cell air pressure should increase such as may be the case due to additional gases developing in the cell asa result of some chemical reactions, any pressure developing in excess of the predetermined desired cell pressure will act upon diaphragm 56 to open valve 48 suilciently to allow excess air or gas to escape thereby restoring the cell air pressure to 50#.

I! a lower cell air pressure should be required, for example 25#, a suitable impulse from the cenl tral control system |18 closes the solenoid-conmatically represented in Figs. 1, V2, and 3 isas eration, the liquid flow of valves Il); and I0b are closed but valves i5, 20a and 33 are open, so that the liquid to be treated, for example sugar juice, passes from supply header I0 through branch I, downwardly through cation exchange cell Ci and by way of the diaphragm-controlled eiliuent throttle valve |Sia through eliluent pipe i9 up to and downwardly through the next cell,` that is anion exchange cell A1. From the bottom of this cell the juice passes by way of diaphragm-controlled eiiiuent throttle valve 20" up to and downawrdly through the next cell, namely cation exchange cell C2'. From this cell the juice or liquid passes by way of the diaphragm-controlled eiiiuent throttle valve 2|a through the eiiiuent pipe 2| up to and then downwardly through the next and last cell of the now active group, namely the anionexchange cell A2'. From this cell the thus treated or I onically puried sugar juice passes by Way ofthe diaphragm-controlled valve 22-and the eiiiuent disposal branch 29 into the disposal header 21 to be subjected to whatever treatment steps are desired such as evaporation crystallization.

Concurrently with the passage of the juice se,

trolled valves 80 and 88 while opening the solenoid-controlled valve 83 admitting 2 5# auxiliary air pressurefrom sub-header 63 to the `.outer pressure chambers 49 and 51 of the valves 44 and 48. The respective automatic pressure reduction valve 12 maintaining the 25# pressure is of a kind that not only operates to keep up a desired predetermined pressure, but also to relieve excess pressure. Therefore the reduction valve 12 in this instance will act as relief valve to allow the 50 pressure trapped in the valve chambers to be reduced to the desired 25# which pressure isx ilen further maintained by the reduction valve Similarly, a 15# pressure `could be established in cell C1 by an impulse from the` central control station |18 closing valves 83 and 86 and opening valve 80. y

cooperatively associated with the automatic maintenance of the basic air pressure in the cell there operates the level control device Oi to maintain the liquid level M1 suilciently close to the bed of exchange material, so that the liquid level will not materially alter its distance d" from the top level of the bed of exchange material whose depth is D.

Auxiliary pressure kept constant at a suitable value by reductionvalve IBI is admitted to the pressure chamber of the diaphragm-controlled valve I9 or is allowed to escape: therefrom depending upon the governing position of the liquid level-controlled oat |58. The net result of the float movements and of the associated devices is that the throttling action of valve lil*l is either increased or decreased as the case may be, an increase of the throttling action being due to a drop ef the liquid 1eve1, and a decrease of the throttling action being due to a rise of the liquid level.` Similarly the float devices Oa, Oa, O4 maintain the liquid at the proper level by reacting upon the respective eiiluent valves ZIB, 22', and in cooperation with the means controlling the cell air pressures in the respective cells A1', Cz', A3'.

Next the irst pair of cells C1 and Ai' is operatively disconnected as for the purpose of regenerating the ion exchange material in them, and a pair of. fresh cells Ca' and Aa' is added to cells C2 and A2' at the downstream end, thereby relatively shifting cells Cz' and Aa' to an upstream position. The resulting new operative group II of Fig. 2 then requires, for example 50# pressure for cell C2, 40# pressure for cell Az, 25# pressure for cell C3', and 15# pressure for cell Az'.

The operating set-up according to Fig. 2 as applied to the apparatus of Figs. 5, 6, 'l would function as follows:

Cells Cr' and A1' are now operatively disconnected from the productive operating set-up in the sense that they are having their exchange material regenerated. Cells `C3' and A1' have been added at the downstream end of the line thereby in effect shifting the cells C2' and Aa' to an upstream position. f

Valves i5 and 20b are closed, and valve il)l1 is open. Valve 33 is closed, valve 22 is open, valve 34 is open, valve 24b is closed. Thus liquid from header I0 by-passes cells C1' and A1' and flows through valve I0, and then through valve I8 in branch I2 to and downwardly through the cation exchange cell C2', thence through eilluent pipe 2| by way of diaphragm-controlled eilluent throttle valve 2|a to and through the anion exchange cell A2', thence through eilluent pipe 22 by way oi.' the diaphragrmcontrolled eilluent throttle valve 22a and valve 22b to and through cation exchange cell C3', thence through eilluent pipe 23 by way of the diaphragm-controlled eilluent throttle valve 23 to the anion exchange cell As', and thence through the initial portion of eiliuent pipe 24 by way of the diaphragm-controlled eilluent throttle valve 24a, and nally through eilluent disposal branch by way of valve 34 to the eilluent disposal header 21 for whatever further treatment is desired.

The manner oi' control. of the cell air pressures as well as of the liquid levels Ms, M4, Ma, and Me in cells Cr", A2', Cs', As' in the operating set-up of group II is similar to the controls described for the operating set-up Vdescribed above for group I. 'I'hat is the proper cell air lpressure is maintained from the sub-headers 62, 63, 64 and 65 through impulses from the central control station |18 tothe respective solenoid-controlled valves controlling respective pairs of diaphragmcontrolled valves 85 and 86, H11-and |08, H6 and ||1, |28 and |23 of respective cells C2'. Aa', C3'. A3', as well as by respective float-control devices Oa, O4, O5, Os cooperatively connected with diaphragm-controlled valves 2|", 22, 23", 24* respectively.

The operating set-up according to Fig. 3 as applied to the apparatus oi Figs. 5, 6, 'I would function as follows:

The cells C1', A1', C2', A2' must now be assumed as being operatively disconnected from the productive operating set-up in the sense that they are having their exchange material regenerated. Cells C4 and A4' have been at the downstream end of the line 'thereby in eiect shifting the cells Ca' and Aa' to an upstream position.

Valves i8, I8, I8, and 22b are closed. valve 34 is also closed, valves i0, Illb and I1 are open, valve 34 is closed and valve 28 is open.

Thus liquid from header I0 by-passes cells Ci', A1', Ca', An' and flows' through valves i0* and lllb and through valve |1 in branch I3 to and downwardly through the cation exchange cell Ca', thence through eiliuent pipe 23 by way of the diaphragm-controlled eiiiuent throttle valve 23 to and through the anion exchange cell Aa', thence through eilluent pipe 24 by way of the diaphragm-controlled eilluent throttle valve 24e and 'valve 24b to and through the cation exchange cell C4', thence through the effluent pipe 25 by way of the diaphragm-controlled eiiluent throttle valve 25 to and through the anion exchange cell A4', thence through the eiiluent pipe, or efiluent disposal branch 28 by way of the diaphragm-contr'olled eiliuent throttle valve 26'L and through valve 28 to the eilluent disposalheader 21 for whatever further treatment is desired.

The manner of control of the cell air pressures as well as of the liquid levels M5, Ms, M1, Ma in cells C3', Aa', C4', A4 in the operating set-up of group III is similar to that employed for groups II and I." That is, the proper cell air pressure is maintained from the sub-headers B2, 63, 64, 65 through impulses from the central control station valves controlling respective pairs of diaphragmcontrolled valves ||6 and ||1, |28 and |23, |31

and |38, |49 and |50 of respective cells Cs', As', C4', A4', a-s well as by respectiveiloat control devices Os, Os, Q7, Oa cooperatively interconnected with diaphragm-controlled valves 23e, 24, 25, and 26*L respectively.

I claim: v

l.' In combination with a plurality of closed ion exchange cells containing beds of ion exchange material in submergence and which are operable in selectively changeable'sequence through which a' liquid is sequentially passed, each of which cells has feeding means for supplying liquid to the bed and discharge meansffor discharging liquid from the bed whereby liquid is being passed through the bed, and also has automatic control means for maintaining the liquid level substantially constant at the top of said bed, a control sy-stem for maintaining the liquid level in each cell substantially at the top level oi the bed,` comprising a compressed air supply header having a supply branch for each cell leading to and into the respective top portion thereof to supply air pressure to the liquid level in the cell, each supply branch comprising an exhaust portion, a reverse-acting diaphragm-controlled valve in which gas pressure from the cell acts upon the inner side of the diaphragm' in a valve-closingsense disposed in each said supply branch between said supply header and said exhaust portion, a right-acting diaphragm-controlled valve in which gas pressure from the cell acts upon the inner side of the diaphragm in a valveopening sense disposed in said exhaust portion, the inner sides of the diaphragms of said valves being simultaneously and directly under the air pressure in the cell, an interconnecting pressure-equalizing conduit between the outer pressure chambers of the diaphragm-controlled valves of each cell, a plurality of auxiliary pressure uid supply headers., a pressure reduc-` tion device disposed in each auxiliary header adapted to be pre-set for admitting a dlierent predetermined fluid pressure into each auxiliary header, parallel branch connections between each |18 to the respective solenoid-controlledv of said auxiliary headers and each of said interconnecting conduits, and selectively operable shut-oil means in each of said parallel branch connections.

2. A control system according to claim 1, in which the shut-off means comprise a solenoidcontrolled valve.

3. A control system according to claim 1, in which said plurality of cells comprises pairs of cation exchange and anion exchange beds in series in which a pair of downstream cells is selectively operable in an upstream position.

4. A control system according to claim l, in which a cell of said plurality is selectively shiftable to an upstream position. e

.WALTER R. SWENSON.

14 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: Y 

